Music Trade Review

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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
the cost of production the company has from its
inception been able to produce for the piano man-
ll
always been striven for and many improvements the road H. D. Griffith has had much success in
have been made from time to time which have not placing these actions with high-grade manufactur-
only increased these important features, but have
made the process of installation much easier and
the action more sensitive.
During the last year three new Simplex styles
were placed on the market: The Simplex Special,
a double valve act on, equipped with a pneumatic
hammer rail and loud pedal, and also having the
Simplex unit pneumatics and a four-piece valve.
The 1915 Simplex is a single valve action which
also has the many individual Simplex characteris-
tics. Another action, known as the Worcester,
has also been produced.
One of the most important features of the Sim-
plex action is the trapezoid tracker bar, which aids
materially in eliminating tracker troubles and is
found only on this action.
A patented roll adjuster was also perfected a
few years ago and is being used with much success
on these actions.
The Unit System and the Four Piece Valve.
All
Rubbing
Is Done with Electric
Machines.
Rubbing
Among those improvements which have been
made in the action during the last two years which
may be considered the most important are the unit
system and the four-piece valve. These, it is
claimed, make the pumping easier, the action
tighter, and in several other respects improve the
appearance and operation of the action.
The construction has also been simplified, which
has made it possible to produce the high-grade
product which is now being marketed at the low
price being asked for it.
In one of the accompanying illustrations Mr.
ufacturer a mechanism of the highest quality at
the lowest possible price. Among the automatic
machines which Mr. Brown has perfected is a
valve block machine, which is shown in one of the
The Machine with Which All Simplex Valve
accompanying illustrations, which was developed
Blocks Are Produced.
especially for the production of Simplex valve
blocks. There are eleven operations performed
ers. To-day the company has practically doubled
by this machine. Tt is fed by the use of a hopper
the output that it had two years ago, and there
and one boy does the work of eleven
is always an increasing demand.
men. The use of the machine as-
The company has always rendered
sures that each block shall be uniform
every service possible to its custom-
in construction, which is a very im-
ers and has gained the confidence of
portant feature, especially in the
the trade, owing to its activity and
manufacture of a high-grade player
many achievements.
action.
The last few years have maVked an
era of progress for this company. Al-
Another machine which has re-
though founded in 1898, seventeen
duced the cost of production mate-
years ago next month, the company
rially is a varnish sprayer, which may
was not incorporated until March,
be seen also in one of the photo-
190"). Its growth since that time has
graphs reproduced herewith. The
been healthy and the improvements
Simplex Player Action Co. manufac-
which have been made in the action
tures all its own metal parts and
are a forerunner of greater things
maintains one of the best-appointed
which are to be accomplished during
machine shops in the industry for
the next few years.
this purpose. Two photographs re-
The company has always been
produced herewith give a very good
managed along the most broad-
idea of the efficient manner in which
minded lines and in its advertising
this shop is maintained. The pneu-
campaigns has given every aid pos-
matics for Simplex player actions are
sible to the piano manufacturer who
made in units, so that any one may
exploits the Simplex action. The fact
be used in the place of another,
that the player is now made in ac-
should the occasion arise. All the
cordance with the unit system has
rubbing of the varnish is done by an
practically eliminated any serious
electric machine, which may be seen
complications for either the manu-
being operated in one of the accom-
The Varnish Is Sprayed on with This Machine, Reducing the Cost by Half. f a c t u r e r o r t h e d c a l e r t 0 c o n t e n d
panying illustrations. An important
department of the company is the testing room,
with, with the result that after the player action
Brown may be seen seated at the drafting desk in
where each individual action is subjected to a se- the experimental room. It is here that many of the
is installed in the piano what little troubles there
vere test before leaving the factory.
are may be remedied by anyone familiar with
great problems of the company are worked out.
pneumatics. The factory force is at present work-;
Mr. Brown is ably assisted in his work by Gustaf
Improvements of Note.
ing overtime in order to meet the demand.
]
A. Swanson, who has been associated with him for
Although, as spoken of before, the Simplex ac-
many years.
tion lias always had an enviable reputation for ease
Since his initial trip on
of operation and expression, greater results have
All Simplex Unit Pneumat : cs Are Made in This Room
All the Hardware Is Made by Automatic Machinery.